Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — Pitching and defense are the keys, and the Chesapeake Panthers used those keys to unlock a win.
Sophomore Tyler Eddy pitched a two-hitter as the Chesapeake Panthers didn’t make an error as they blanked the Portsmouth Trojans 7-0 on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Eddy struck out six, walked four and hit a batter in going the distance.
“Tyler Eddy gave us an awesome performance. He threw a whale of a ball game,” said Panthers’ coach Justin Davis as Eddy threw just 88 pitches.
“We got good pitching and we didn’t make an error. He threw first-pitch strikes and made them put the ball in play and we made the plays behind him.”
After a scoreless first inning the Panthers scored six runs in the second inning with one out.
Eddy singled and went to second on an error. He went to third on a fly out.
Kelton Jones walked and stole second and Casey McComas singled to score Eddy and he came around to score on an outfield error.
Evan Burcham walked, stole second and Dalton Nida had an RBI single. Zach Wright and Bryce Depriest double in two runs.
The Panthers (6-8, 3-6) final run scored in the fifth when Depriest singled, pinch-runner Logan Russell stole second and came home on a ground out.
Depriest was 2-3 with a double and two RBI and McComas 2-4 to lead the Panthers.
On Monday, Chesapeake hosts Ironton and Portsmouth is at South Point.
Portsmouth    000    000    0    =    0    2    3
Chesapeake    060    010    x    =    7    8    0
Reece Johnson and Mikey Potts. Tyler Eddy and Dalton Nida. W-Eddy (K-6, BB-4, HBP-1). L-Johnson. Hitting-PHS: Blake Wedebrook 1-2, Mikey Potts 1-2; Chesy: Casey McComas 2-4, Evan Burcham 1-3, Dalton Nida 1-4, Zach Wright 1-3 2B, Bryce Depriest 2-3 2B 2-RBI, Tyler Eddy 1-3, Kelton Jones 1-2.